. >> reporter: hagel does have the most important supporter. >> i served with chuck hagel. i know him. he is a patriot. >> reporter: the president will have a fight on his hand with the nomination and among democrats his own party which controls the senate and confirmation process. one of the reasons the white house was telling senate democrats this nomination is coming, hoping to soften the blow. david kerley, abc news, the white house. >>> in other news this morning -- secretary of state hillary clinton is returning to work today for the first time in a month. of course, she was side lined by a stomach virus, concussion, and most recently a blood clot in her head that landed her in the hospital for three days. clinton's schedule includes nearly a dozen meetings this week. it's not clear when she will testified about the benghazi attack as she promised. of course, she will step down in a few weeks and senator john kerry expected to take over. >>> rare speech from syrian president bashar assad has drawn a quick and blunt reaction from the obama administration. a defiant ass